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Thames Valley



 
 
The Thames Valley generally implies the region that drains into the River Thames
River Thames

The Thames is a major river flowing through southern England. While best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows through several other towns and cities, including Oxford, Reading, Berkshire and Windsor, Berkshire....
 (the Thames catchment
Drainage basin

A drainage basin is an extent of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean....
), from west of Cirencester
Cirencester

Cirencester is a market town in Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in Cotswold ....
 to London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 but is used in a more specific term by the government
Government

Government is the body within any organization that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws, regulations, or rules. Typically, the government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national -- but commercial, academic, religious, or other formal organizations are also administered by governing bodies....
.

In its more specific sense, as used in the name of Thames Valley Police
Thames Valley Police

Thames Valley Police is one of the largest Home Office police services in England and the largest non-metropolitan counties of England one, covering 2200 sq mi and a population of 2.1 million....
, it refers to the areas of Berkshire
Berkshire

Berkshire is a Home Counties in the South East England of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1958, and Letters patent issued confirming...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire is a Ceremonial counties of England and Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England home counties Counties of England in South East England England....
 and Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the South East England region, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire....
.

Thames Valley economy was valued at $63 billion in 2007.

In the last quarter of 19th century, the historic industries of beer, biscuits and bulbs were replaced by modern knowledge-based industries, primarily information and communications technology and life sciences.

The direct labour force amounts to 1 million people, but the total workforce within an hour of the Thames Valley towns is close to 3.7 million.

Since 2002, the Thames Valley has been the UK’s fastest growing region, averaging 3.5 per cent economic growth after inflation, well ahead of the 2.5 per cent national average.

Productivity is high, averaging £49,000 per worker in 2006, £8,600 higher than the south-east average.






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Encyclopedia


The Thames Valley generally implies the region that drains into the River Thames
River Thames

The Thames is a major river flowing through southern England. While best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows through several other towns and cities, including Oxford, Reading, Berkshire and Windsor, Berkshire....
 (the Thames catchment
Drainage basin

A drainage basin is an extent of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean....
), from west of Cirencester
Cirencester

Cirencester is a market town in Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in Cotswold ....
 to London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 but is used in a more specific term by the government
Government

Government is the body within any organization that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws, regulations, or rules. Typically, the government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national -- but commercial, academic, religious, or other formal organizations are also administered by governing bodies....
.

In its more specific sense, as used in the name of Thames Valley Police
Thames Valley Police

Thames Valley Police is one of the largest Home Office police services in England and the largest non-metropolitan counties of England one, covering 2200 sq mi and a population of 2.1 million....
, it refers to the areas of Berkshire
Berkshire

Berkshire is a Home Counties in the South East England of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1958, and Letters patent issued confirming...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire is a Ceremonial counties of England and Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England home counties Counties of England in South East England England....
 and Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the South East England region, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire....
.

Economy

The Thames Valley economy was valued at $63 billion in 2007.

In the last quarter of 19th century, the historic industries of beer, biscuits and bulbs were replaced by modern knowledge-based industries, primarily information and communications technology and life sciences.

The direct labour force amounts to 1 million people, but the total workforce within an hour of the Thames Valley towns is close to 3.7 million.

Since 2002, the Thames Valley has been the UK’s fastest growing region, averaging 3.5 per cent economic growth after inflation, well ahead of the 2.5 per cent national average.

Productivity is high, averaging £49,000 per worker in 2006, £8,600 higher than the south-east average. The workforce is skilled: 29 per cent of employment is in the knowledge economy, compared with the national average of 17 per cent, and 37 per cent of people in employment hold a degree. One-fifth of Thames Valley workers are employed in managerial and senior positions, five points higher than the UK average.

The Thames Valley Economic Partnership is a not-for profit partnership that brings together the region's leading private and public sector organisations to promote the region's economic competitiveness.

The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce

A chamber of commerce is a form of business network. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community....
  covers this area and is respected, holding the accolade of 'National Chamber of the Year'. There is also a Thames Valley Business Partnership and a Thames Valley University
Thames Valley University

Thames Valley University is a United Kingdom New Universities based on campuses in Slough, Reading, Berkshire in Berkshire, and Ealing in west London....
.

The area is covered by a single Britain in Bloom
Britain in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is a horticulture competition in the United Kingdom. It was first held in 1963, initiated by the British Tourist Board based on the example set by Fleurissement de France....
 region called Thames and Chilterns; this term is also promoted as a tourist destination.

Law and Order

This area has had a single police force since 1968, and in 1999 acquired a single magistrates' court
Magistrates' Court

A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of Courts of England and Wales in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions....
 committee, as a merger of the previous Buckinghamshire and Berkshire & Oxfordshire committees.

Major towns


  • Abingdon
  • Ascot
    Ascot, Berkshire

    Ascot is a small town within the civil parish of Sunninghill and Ascot, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. It is most notable as the location of Ascot Racecourse, home of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting....
  • Aylesbury
    Aylesbury

    See also: Aylesbury Urban AreaAylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in south east England. In the United Kingdom Census 2001 the Aylesbury Urban Area, which includes Bierton, Fairford Leys, Stoke Mandeville and Watermead, Buckinghamshire, had a population of 69,021, which included 56,392 for the Aylesbury civil parish....
  • Banbury
    Banbury

    Banbury is a market town and civil parish in the district of Cherwell in northern Oxfordshire, England, located on the River Cherwell. It lies northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford....
  • Beaconsfield
    Beaconsfield

    Beaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of London, and east of the county town of Aylesbury....
  • Bracknell
    Bracknell

    Bracknell is a town in the Bracknell Forest borough of Berkshire, England. It lies 18 km to the south-east of Reading, Berkshire, 16 km southwest of Windsor, Berkshire and 53 km west of London....
  • Didcot
    Didcot

    Didcot is a town in the Thames Valley, in the England county of Oxfordshire . The town is located approximately 10 miles south of the city of Oxford....
  • Faringdon
    Faringdon

    Faringdon is a market town in the Vale of White Horse, in Oxfordshire within the Historic counties of England of Berkshire, England. It is located on the edge of the Thames Valley, between the River Thames and the Ridgeway....
  • Henley-on-Thames
    Henley-on-Thames

    Henley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, Berkshire, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead, England....
  • High Wycombe
    High Wycombe

    High Wycombe , is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of central London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town....
  • Maidenhead
    Maidenhead

    Maidenhead is a town within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London....
  • Marlow
    Marlow, Buckinghamshire

    Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England. It is located on the River Thames, four miles south-south-west of High Wycombe, and four miles north west of Maidenhead....
  • Milton Keynes
    Milton Keynes

    Milton Keynes , often abbreviated to MK, is a large town in South East England, about north-west of London. It is also the principal town of the Milton Keynes , within the ceremonial counties of England of Buckinghamshire....
     (in the valley of the River Great Ouse
    River Great Ouse

    The River Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. It is 150 miles long which makes it the major navigation in East Anglia, and the fourth-Rivers of the United Kingdom#Longest rivers in the United Kingdom....
     but policed by Thames Valley Police).
  • Oxford
    Oxford

    Oxford is a City status in the United Kingdom, and the county town of Oxfordshire, in South East England. It has a population of 151,000. The rivers River Cherwell and River Thames run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre....
  • Reading
    Reading, Berkshire

    Reading is a town in England, located at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, midway between London and Swindon off the M4 motorway....
  • Slough
    Slough

    Slough is a Borough status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority area within the Ceremonial counties of England of Berkshire, England, situated west of London....
  • Staines
    Staines

    Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and part of the London Commuter Belt of South East England, but remains within the postal county of Middlesex....
  • Swindon
    Swindon

    Swindon is a City sized town and unitary borough authority in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in South West England England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, Berkshire, east....
  • Wallingford
    Wallingford

    Wallingford is a small market town and civil parish in the upper Thames Valley in Oxfordshire, England....
  • Wantage
    Wantage

    Wantage is a town and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse, near the Thames Valley, in the England county of Oxfordshire , and approximately south-southwest of Oxford....
  • Windsor
    Windsor, Berkshire

    Windsor is a suburban town and tourist destination in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is best known as the site of Windsor Castle....
  • Wokingham
    Wokingham

    Wokingham is a small market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England England approximately 33 miles west of London. It is east-southeast of Reading, Berkshire and west of Bracknell....


The Thames Valley Economic Partnership (TVEP) is a not-for profit partnership that brings together the region's leading private and public sector organisations to promote the region's economic competitiveness by:

Lobbying for investment in infrastructure priorities Building relationships with potential and current inward investors so that they continue to build their business in the Thames Valley Promoting innovation, inspiring and connecting innovators Leading briefings and discussion on current issues affecting the Thames Valley economy

See also

  • Thames Valley Harriers
    Thames Valley Harriers

    Thames Valley Harriers is a well-known athletics club based in West London, England. It was founded in 1887 and is based at the Linford Christie Stadium, which is named after one of its most famous athletes, Olympic Games 100 metres gold medallist Linford Christie....
  • Thames Valley Police
    Thames Valley Police

    Thames Valley Police is one of the largest Home Office police services in England and the largest non-metropolitan counties of England one, covering 2200 sq mi and a population of 2.1 million....
  • Thames Valley Tigers
    Thames Valley Tigers

    Thames Valley Tigers was a United Kingdom basketball team competing in the British Basketball League from 1987 to 2005, when funding was ceased and the franchise folded....
  • Thames Valley University
    Thames Valley University

    Thames Valley University is a United Kingdom New Universities based on campuses in Slough, Reading, Berkshire in Berkshire, and Ealing in west London....


External links